There are several different ways that you can write a college admissions essay. One way is to be very analytical in your approach, and direct your argument as you would toward a group of impartial strangers. Another is to be extremely conversational in your essay, as if you were talking to a friend. In my opinion, however, the best approach to take when writing your college admissions essay is to write it as you would a well organized, passionate, and heartfelt speech.
As previously covered, college admissions personnel require personal essays from their applicants both as a method to test applicants’ writing skills as well as to get to know them personally. With this in mind, you should speak from the heart when composing your college admissions essay. Now, this doesn’t mean that the tone of your essay should be casual and/or conversational, but it should be relaxed enough so that the people reading it feel as though they capture your individuality.
I feel that the biggest mistake a person can make when writing a college admissions essay is to approach it as if it was a research paper and/or subject analysis. The point of college admissions essays is to write about yourself and discuss your goals for the future! That is what admission board members want to know – they want to know about you. Composing an admissions essay from an impartial perspective will only stand to alienate the admissions council. . .and hurt your chances of admission.
Writing a college admissions essay doesn’t have to be excruciating. As long as you are honest in your approach, you can rest assured that your voice will be heard. If you would like help writing your college admissions essay or if you would like to know where you can find a professional editor who is qualified in proof-reading college admissions essays, please don’t hesitate to contact me.